By Vivian Onyebukwa

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In its effort to assist the less-privileged, Rotary Club of Tin Can Island, Apapa, District 9110, recently donated wheelchairs and sticks for the blind to the disabled, during the investiture of Mr. Chimera Charles Ezenwanne as its 34th president.
In his speech on the occasion, Ezenwanne stated that his administration would present wheelchairs to 50 persons, blind sticks to 100 persons and grants to widows. He mentioned that the club would also undertake youth development programmes on cybercrime and drug abuse, renovate Alakoto Nursery and Primary School, and organise Show Love Campaign for the needy. He said that the projects were expected to cost N12 million.
The president and his board of directors pledged to execute all the projects and programmes alongside those of the last administration. He disclosed that the areas of focus would target the most vulnerable groups of various communities mainly the elderly, the sick and the unemployed.
He predicted that the initiatives of his administration would bring Rotary closer to the people of other communities, and expressed hope that they were bound to change lives and make a difference, which were what Rotary stood for.
Ezenwanne re-affirmed the club’s commitment to doing good in the community, especially assisting those who were at a disadvantage for reasons beyond their control.
He said, “We will not abandon them because we cherish one another, since humanity is one.
“We will continue to share the same hope and faith. This is how Rotarians over the years, through their thoughts, words and deeds, have created goodwill, peace and understanding throughout the world.
“As we pursue our Rotary dreams this year, we hope to reach our community through our humanitarian projects and programmes, which are designed to assist the less fortunate members of our society.”
In his farewell address, Mr. Enema Samson, outgoing helmsman, recalled his induction into Rotary by a past president and his bosom friend, Mr. Bassel Mourad, precisely 12 years ago in 2005 at his investiture. He said that: “In the course of my Rotary adventure, I have come to deeply appreciate and understand mankind as God indeed planned from the beginning.
“We live in a world that is constantly changing and bedevilled with a lot of good and evil at the same time. Rotary international’s area of focus cannot be more apt in trying to eliminate the ills in our society.”
Samson emphasised that Rotary was focused on peace and conflict resolution, diseases prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.
He described the last area of focus, economic and community development, as the basis of all other areas, so, if it was handled properly, all other elements would fall in line.
According to him, the achievements of Rotary Club of Tin Can Island in the past 34 years were too numerous to mention. They included the renovation of toilets at Tolu Senior Secondary School, renovation of the library of Tolu Junior Secondary School, donation of 20 wheelchairs to those in need and donation of N20,000 cash gifts/grants to 20 indigent widows/petty traders in Apapa/Ajegunle community.
Others he said, included printing and donation of 2,000 books to the library at Temidire Senior High School and Alakoto Primary School, donation of 150 schoolbags to Alakoto Primary School and construction and donation of tables and chairs to Alakoto Primary school. He recalled that the club had also conducted free eye tests and screening for Randle Secondary School and Apapa High School, and organised seminars, coaching, health and literacy awareness campaigns in the area, among other things.
The chief launcher on the occasion, Chief Chidozie Nwankwo, chairman, Wichtech Ind. Ltd, expressed gratitude to God for using Rotary Club to make impact on lives despite the economic hardship in the country.
“All these are ways of eradicating poverty in the society. In the cause of my Rotary journey, I realised that Rotary International has committed lots of resources to eliminating poverty.
“The government of various countries of the world have also set up committees and programmes to eradicate poverty, but alas poverty has refused to go. We can, however, minimise poverty by doing whatever we can at our various levels to make impact on the lives around us,” he said.
The theme for the Rotary year was, “Making the Difference.” The event, which took place at Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, also witnessed the induction of the board of directors for 2017/2018 Rotary year.
Chairman on the occasion was Chief Okwudili Otti, chairman, Caltec Ltd; the guest speaker was Ayo Kumasotu, of Kusamotu Chambers, while Dr. Johnbosco Onunkwo was the special guest of honour.